Yalcin Given Deadline

[footyfan]

TURKISH under-20 international Lev Yalcin has been given until the weekend to commit his future to York City.

Minstermen boss Chris Brass issued his ultimatum after talks yesterday afternoon failed to clarify Yalcin's intentions for next season.

Turkish team Antalyaspor and two unnamed Belgian sides - one is believed to be Manchester United feeder club Royal Antwerp - have made the 19-year-old striker offers to play overseas but he is still mulling over a contract to stay at Bootham Crescent.

But Brass wants a decision within days as he has other options lined up if Yalcin decides to leave.

Middlesbrough-born Yalcin is in Brass' squad for tonight's friendly match against his home-town Premiership club but it could be his last appearance in a City shirt.

Brass said: "Lev Yalcin is in the squad but he's got to make sure he gets his head sorted out and decide where he wants to be. I need to know as soon as possible.

"He has other offers on the table from other parties including the Turkish club he went on trial with and a couple of Belgian teams but I need to know what he wants to do by this weekend. There are strikers here on trial who have impressed and we have to do what's best for York City Football Club."

Former Grimsby striker Jonny Rowan caught the eye as a City trialist in Friday night's 2-0 defeat against Doncaster and another similar performance tonight could make him a leading contender to fill any space on the wage bill created by Yalcin's departure.

Attacking players Paul Brayson and Tom Raw will also be given a second chance to impress against Middlesbrough.

Brass has welcomed Boro's decision to send first-team stars Juninho, Massimo Maccarone, Szilard Nemeth and Chris Riggott to Bootham Crescent despite the Riverside outfit also fielding another side at Rotherham tonight.

City's player-boss said: "Juninho should bring a few more fans into the ground. Even though we were told it would be a `half-half' team we did fear that it might not be a strong team because they are going to Rotherham but to have players of his calibre and some of the others is pleasing.

"It will be a good experience for some of our youngsters to play alongside people such as Juninho and see how technically good they are at close quarters. Maccarone and Nemeth are also very good players. They are sharp and what you find with players of their class is that they are one step ahead of the game mentally. It will be a tough test defensively.

"They are all very good professionals, very fit and tactically aware. Our players will be able to learn a great deal for them."

Brass will also be casting a watchful eye over several members of Middlesbrough's FA Youth Cup winning team that will be on display at Bootham Crescent as he considers possible loan targets for next season.

"I think Middlesbrough's young professionals will be trying hard to impress as well," Brass said. "They were fantastic in the FA Youth Cup and it could also be an opportunity to look at one or two of them because maybe next season we could help their progression and ourselves.

"Hopefully, Steve McLaren will help us out as he did last year even though Craig Dove did not work out as well as we expected."

City squad: Chris Porter, Paul Crichton, Craig Mawson, Graeme Law, Chris Brass, Chris Clarke, Steve Davis, Richard Teesdale, Sean Davies, Paul Dunn, Mark Robertson, Kevin Donovan, Tom Raw, Paul Groves, Darren Dunning, Gary Pearson, Matthew Coad, Paul Brayson, Dave Merris, Andy Bishop, Paul Robinson, Lee Nogan, Jonny Rowan, Lev Yalcin.
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